Antique Arms & Militaria

Antique Persian Carved Bone Hilted Kindjal Short Sword

18th to Early 19th Century. The blade has traces of a complex etched design, possibly including some Islamic script. Carved bone hilt with single silver leaf d?cor and a nail mounting stud. Old cracking to hilt and overall russetting to the old blade. Overall 201/4 inches long  read more

Code: 23135

A Fine Bladed Indonesian Keris, Nickel Iron Meteoric Blade

19th Century Keris Dagger/Sword, but the blade may be far older. This Indonesian ceremonial dagger or Keris is believed to date from the 1800's based on the style, materials and condition of the steel. The handle made of wood indigenous to Java, appears to be from the 19th century. As the keris is handed down from generation to generation (sometimes over centuries), the wooden handle and scabbard are often replaced with the blade remaining original. Used in cultural ceremonies and traditionally worn as a symbol of status, the Keris is an important cultural item in Indonesian and Malaysian cultures. This particular example is done in the dapur bener (straight blade) style, and was hand forged with alternating laminations of so-called iron and meteoric nickel-rich iron. As a historic item that the blade can bu up to 300 years old or more, there is some rust and pitting in parts on the blade. However, the unique patterns of nickel in the steel are very visible on the blade and the edges are still quite sharp.

Painting in the Royal Collection by Frans Francken the Younger in the gallery, photo 10, painted in 1617, titled 'Cabinet of a Collector', clearly shows, top left, a 16th century Kris dagger, Even as early as the 16th century, awareness and collectability of the Indonesian kris had reached far into Europe.

The kris or keris is a distinctive, asymmetrical dagger from Indonesia. Both weapon and spiritual object, the kris is considered to possess magical powers. The earliest known kris go back to the tenth century and most probably spread from the island of Java throughout South-East Asia.

Kris blades are usually narrow with a wide, asymmetrical base. The sheath is often made from wood, though examples from ivory, even gold, abound. A kris’ aesthetic value covers the dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with some 40 variants), the pamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with approximately 120 variants), and tangguh referring to the age and origin of a kris. A bladesmith, or empu, makes the blade in layers of different iron ores and meteorite nickel. In high quality kris blades, the metal is folded dozens or hundreds of times and handled with the utmost precision. Empus are highly respected craftsmen with additional knowledge in literature, history and occult sciences.

Kris were worn everyday and at special ceremonies, and heirloom blades are handed down through successive generations. Both men and women wear them. A rich spirituality and mythology developed around this dagger. Kris are used for display, as talismans with magical powers, weapons, sanctified heirlooms, auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, accessories for ceremonial dress, an indicator of social status, a symbol of heroism, etc

No scabbard  read more

Code: 24678

A Most Scarce Victorian Boer War Cap Badge of Her Majesty's Reserve Regiment of Dragoons

Used for only two years in service from 1900. Brass with intertwined initials, 'HMRR', above a scroll bearing the title, 'Dragoons'. Two lugs on reverse. The regiments were all disbanded in 1902 at the end of the Boer War.

A whole series of reserve regiments were raised during the Boer War (1899-1902). They were formed as a result of Army Orders issued in 1900 and consisted of men on the Reserve who could sign up. They were used for Garrison duties in Great Britain and were not liable for service overseas. These units were separate from the Volunteers, and Imperial Yeomanry which had also been raised at the same time.

The regiments were organised to follow elements of the regimental system. They included the Reserve Regiment of Dragoons, Lancers, Hussars, Royal Rifles Reserve Regiment and regional regiments such as the Royal Southern Reserve Regiment. There was also a Royal Guards Reserve Regiment, but this used the cap badges of the parent regiments, rather than bespoke badges which were introduced for the other regiments.  read more

Code: 24670

An Original Ancient 13th Century, Crusader Knight's Iron Battle Mace & Scorpion Head

Pineapple shaped head with large mounting hole. The type as were also used as a Flail Mace, with the centre mount being filled with lead and a chain mounted hook, when it was not mounted on a haft, as this mace is. Flattened pyramidical protuberances, possibly English or East European. Made for a mounted Knight in the era of the Crusades, to use as an Armour and Helmet Crusher in mortal combat. Although made in the 1200's it would have been continually used up to the 15th to 16th century. On a Flail it had the name of a Scorpion in England or France, or sometimes a Battle-Whip. It was also wryly known as a 'Holy Water Sprinkler'. King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon, as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant that his lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat. Although blind he was a valiant and the bravest of the Warrior Kings, who perished at the Battle of Crecy against the English in 1346. On the day he was slain he instructed his Knights [both friends and companions] to lead him to the very centre of battle, so he may strike at least one blow against his enemies. His Knights tied their horses to his, so the King would not be separated from them in the press, and they rode together into the thick of battle, where King John managed to strike not one but at least four noble blows. The following day of the battle, the horses and the fallen knights were found all about the body of their most noble King, all still tied to his steed.  read more

Code: 17235

A Beautiful & Very Fine Quality Gilt Early Belgian Order of the Crown, Gold Medal, For The Liberation of Belgium From the Nazi Occupation

In gilt bronze and excellent condition. The Order may also be bestowed to foreign nationals and is frequently awarded to military and diplomatic personnel of other countries stationed in (or providing support to) Belgium. During the Second World War, the Order of the Crown was extensively authorized for award to Allied military personnel who had helped to liberate Belgium from the occupation forces of Nazi Germany.

The Order of the Crown is awarded by royal decree.
The Order was established on October 15, 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved for service in the Congo Free State. In 1908, the Order of the Crown was made a national honour of Belgium, junior to the Order of Leopold.
 read more

Code: 16570

A Victorian 1881 Inniskilling Fusiliers Busby Helmet Grenade

In October 1899 war broke out between the United Kingdom and the Boer Republics. The 1st Battalion landed at Durban, where they became part of the 5th (Irish) Brigade. The battalion was involved in a series of military reverses at the hands of the Boers that became known as the "Black Week", culminating in defeat at the Battle of Colenso. The unit subsequently took part in the Tugela Campaign before helping relieve Ladysmith in early 1900. The regiment lent its name to "Inniskilling Hill", which was taken by the 5th brigade on 24/25 February 1900. In 1914 the Great War broke out and the 2nd Battalion was first to see action in the Battle of Le Cateau. The 1st Battalion participated in the Landing at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsula in April 1915 with the 29th Division. There were also nine New Army battalions raised seeing service with the 10th (Irish) Division, the 16th (Irish) Division and the 36th (Ulster) Division on the Western Front and at Gallipoli, the Macedonian Campaign and Palestine.  read more

Code: 19916

A South American Sorocabana Knife 'Faca De Ponta’ of the South American Cowboys

"Sorocabana knife". It was the knife used by the bandeirantes of Sao Paulo and by the tropeiros who traveled between the south and southeast regions. Made from an imported blade from Gebruder Weyersberg Solingen. Gilt decorated makers panel. Carved ebony hilt In the southern region of Brazil , "tropeiro" was the conductor of mules troops from the city of Viamao, Rio Grande do Sul, to Sorocaba, Sao Paulo. These troops supplied the gold cycle in Minas Gerais in the eighteenth century. This activity was responsible for the founding of countless cities in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana. Before the railways, and long before the trucks, merchandise trade was done by drovers in regions where there were no alternatives for sea or river navigation for distribution.
The interior regions, far from the coast, depended for a long time on this mode of transportation by mules . Since the end of the seventeenth century, mining works, for example, required the formation of groups of merchants in the domestic trade. Initially called men of the way, traffickers or passers-by, the tropeiros became fundamental in the trade of slaves , food and tools of the miners.
Far from being specialized merchants, the tropeiros bought and sold of everything a little: slaves, tools, clothes, etc. The existence of Tropeirismo was intimately related to the coming and going of roads and highways, especially the Estrada Real - road through which Minas Gerais gold arrived at the port of Rio de Janeiro and followed to Portugal .  read more

Code: 20803

Antique Mandingo Chieftain's Slave and Gold Trader Sword With Tattoo'd Leather Scabbard

A chieftain's weapon of Mandingo slave and gold traders. The Manding (Mandingo) are West African people. Their traditional sword for the slave traders comprises a sabre like blade, guardless leather grip and scabbard with exquisite leather work. This example is a long sized example, of a high ranking Mandingo, of very nice quality and finely tattooed. 25 inches long curved blade, leather grip and leather scabbard with leaf shaped widening tip, entirely tooled tattooed and decorated. Of special interest is the finely bound and decorated leather work. These weapons are well known for their leather-work and the tattooing applied to the leather of the scabbards. The iron work skills are less well developed. Many blades are taken from European weapons such as sabres and cutlasses.
While the Baule are a distinct tribal group to the west, it is important to observe that Malinke is a variant term applied to the Mandingo (also Manding, Mandin, Mande).
In general, these remain primarily considered Mandingo weapons, and from regions in Mali. These were of course invariably mounted with European sabre blades. Mandingo Tribe (also known as the Mandinka, Mande, or the Malinke Tribes) were the traders of the African West Coast, trading primarily in gold and slaves from other African tribes. The blades comes out a little from the chape. Small areas of leather separation on the scabbard binding. Picture in the gallery of an 1850's engraving of a Mandingo Chief and his sword bearer.  read more

Code: 17967

An Antique 18th Century Indian Armour Piercing Punch Dagger Katar, Combat Damaged, or Adapted For Armour Wear

The Katar is an amazing combat weapon from the Indian sub continent, in combat use by select warriors and nobles for five centuries, it is a scarcely seen piece, yet highly distinctive and iconic. It was designed in several forms, some long and relatively light, others extremely robust and overtly powerful. This is one of the latter types. It’s ‘crow’s beak’ penetrating tip shows and strongest possible ribbed blade design was so efficient that effectively there was likely no body armour that could not be penetrated by such a powerful piece, once in the hands of a Katar wielding expert. It has been forged in great and powerful quality, and is a very high quality example with superior heft.
One of the bracing arms has been lost, very possibly from an opponents sword cut, although we have seen this before and we were informed by an esteemed elderly Indian warfare scholar that it has been known for one arm to ge removed so an an armoured warrior could use a the Katar while wearing the right fore-arm protector combat armour, known as the the bazu band. While wearing the bazu band armour the warriors forearm is much wider than usual and a Katar’s narrow arm extensions would preclude its use in combat while wearing armour.

The katar originated in Tamil Nadu where its Dravidian name was kattari before being altered to katar in the north. The earliest forms occur in the medieval Deccan kingdom of Vijayanagara. Katar dating back to this period often had a leaf- or shell-like knuckle-guard to protect the back of the hand, but this was discarded by the latter half of the 17th century. The Maratha gauntlet sword or pata is thought to have been developed from the katar. As the weapon spread throughout India it became something of a status symbol, much like the Southeast Asian kris or the Japanese katana. Among the Rajputs, Sikhs and Mughals, princes and nobles were often portrayed wearing a katara at their side. This was not only a precaution for self-defense, but it was also meant to show their wealth and position. Upper-class Mughals would even hunt tigers with katar. For a hunter to kill a tiger with such a short-range weapon was considered the surest sign of bravery and martial skill. The heat and moisture of India's climate made steel an unsuitable material for a dagger sheath, so they were covered in fabric such as velvet or silk. Because the katara's blade is in line with the user's arm, the basic attack is a direct thrust identical to a punch, although it could also be used for slashing. This design allows the fighter to put their whole weight into a thrust. Typical targets include the head and upper body, similar to boxing. The sides of the handle could be used for blocking but it otherwise has little defensive capability. As such, the wielder must be agile enough to dodge the opponent's attacks and strike quickly, made possible because of the weapon's light weight and small size compared to a long sword. Indian martial arts in general make extensive use of agility and acrobatic maneuvers. As far back as the 16th century, there was at least one fighting style which focused on fighting with a pair of katara, one in each hand.  read more

Code: 24644

A 1200’s Old Knight's Prick Spur, Still With Buckle From The IInd Baron’s War of Henry IIIrd and Earl Simon de Montfort

We show a medeavil drawing from the British Museum of a kneeling knight wearing the very same form of prick spur. It is absolutely remarkable that this spur stil has its leather strap buckle and mount in place. Battle of Lewes period, from the IInd Baron’s War

The Battle of Lewes was one of two main battles of the conflict known as the Second Barons' War. It took place at Lewes in Sussex, on 14 May 1264.[1] It marked the high point of the career of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and made him the "uncrowned King of England". Henry III left the safety of Lewes Castle and St. Pancras Priory to engage the barons in battle and was initially successful, his son Prince Edward routing part of the baronial army with a cavalry charge. However, Edward pursued his quarry off the battlefield and left Henry's men exposed. Henry was forced to launch an infantry attack up Offham Hill where he was defeated by the barons' men defending the hilltop. The royalists fled back to the castle and priory and the King was forced to sign the Mise of Lewes, ceding many of his powers to Montfort.

The battle site is still not completely agreed upon, but part of the conflict was recorded at Offham hill, and this is was just 4 miles south of our farm, Thousands of the protagonists soldiers were supposedly camped within our old grounds, but at present it is not certain for which side they fought. Our farm was originally part of Earl Godwin’s estate, later more famously known as King Harold, who also supposedly camped here before his Battle of Hastings in 1066. A Canadian funded documentary is being filmed here at the current time.

Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (c. 1208 – 4 August 1265), later sometimes referred to as Simon de Montfort to distinguish him from his namesake relatives, was a nobleman of French origin and a member of the English peerage, who led the baronial opposition to the rule of King Henry III of England, culminating in the Second Barons' War. Following his initial victories over royal forces, he became de facto ruler of the country, and played a major role in the constitutional development of England.

During his rule, Montfort called two famous parliaments: the Oxford Parliament stripped Henry of his unlimited authority, while the second included ordinary citizens from the towns. For this reason, Montfort is regarded today as one of the progenitors of modern parliamentary democracy, however during his time as Earl of Leicester he was also determinedly anti semitic and expelled all of the Jews from that city, yet curiously, Leicester's Jews were allowed to move to the eastern suburbs, which were controlled by Montfort's great-aunt Margaret, Countess of Winchester. But as he became ruler of England he also cancelled debts owed to Jews through violent seizures of records. Montfort's party massacred the Jews of London, Worcester and Derby, killing scores of Jews from Winchester to Lincoln. After a rule of just over a year, Montfort was killed by forces loyal to the king in the Battle of Evesham


de Montfort also had connections to the Albigensian Crusade, which was a crusade against the heretic Cathars, and was immensely popular in northern France because it gave pious warriors an opportunity to win a Crusade indulgence. The Albigensian Crusade, Crusade (1209-29) was called by Pope Innocent III against the Cathari, a dualist religious movement in southern France that the Roman Catholic Church had branded heretical. The war pitted the nobility of staunchly Catholic northern France against that of the south, where the Cathari were tolerated and even enjoyed the support of the nobles. Although the Crusade did not eliminate Catharism, it eventually enabled the French king to establish his authority over the south. During the first season the Crusaders captured Boziers in the heart of Cathar territory and following the instructions of the papal legate who allegedly said, Kill them all. God will know his own, when asked how the Crusaders should distinguish the heretics from true Christians massacred almost the entire population of the city. With the exception of Carcassonne, which held out for a few months, much of the territory of the Albigeois surrendered to the Crusaders. Command of the Crusade was then given to Simon, lord of Montfort and earl of Leicester, who had served during the Fourth Crusade. A man, one can safely say was famed for his deeply held religious prejudices, yet ironically, an exponent of parliamentary democracy.  read more

Code: 22314